Martin Flashman's Courses - Math 115 Fall, 2011
Tentative Course Information- Subject to Change (6-30-11)
Algebra and Elementary Functions
TR     14:00 15:20  NR 101  
Work in Progress
"Lecture 31"  W     800 850     BSS_302
"Lecture 32"   W   900 950     BSS_302
"Lecture 33"   W   1100 1150     BSS_408
"Lecture 34"   W   1400 1450    FR_107

OFFICE: BSS 356    E-MAIL: flashman at humboldt.edu        PHONE:826-4950
WWW: http://flashman.neocities.org/
Office hours :(Tentative) MT R 8:15-9:50; W 3:10-4:15  and by appointment or chance.

Alternative M115 Faculty Shared Office Hours 
Tim Lauck (BSS 336): W: 4-5; F 11:15-1:15       Pete Goetz (BSS 358) : M 11:30-1:00
PREREQUISITE: Math code 40 (or better) or permission.

IMPORTANT: You may not need this course to take calculus. MATH PLACEMENT at HSU now includes a test to see if you are ready for calculus.
You can take the Math Department Diagnostic Placement Test.
If you think you have demonstrated capability to do the work in this course in previous course work, you should see me AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. 
The test will be given again Wednesday Aug., 24th, 5:00 pm.
A quick self-check on your capability to proceed to a calculus course may be found on the course Moodle page using the Baseline Course Pre-Test, which you can access as a guest if you are not yet enrolled in the class.

Required Baseline Course Pre-Test
All Math 115 students in this class should take the Required Baseline Course Pre-Test on-line by Thursday, August 25th. The test will take about 1 hour.
Print the results of the test and bring the results to submit in class on Thursday.
This work will not count toward your grade, but:
Failure to submit this work by 5 pm on Thursday, August 25th may result in being dropped from the course

Catalog Description: In-depth treatment of exponential, logarithmic,trigonometric, and polynomial functions. Prereq: HSU MATH 42 or 44 or 45 or math code 40.
TEXT: Precalculus: A Right Triangle Approach,  4/E Judith A. Beecher, Judith A. Penna, Marvin L. Bittinger (Pearson,  2012) with MyMathLab/MyStatLab Student Access Kit

 

MOODLE: The course syllabus, announcements, and posted materials for the course will be available on Moodle. Access to the course page on Moodle will be available to guests without current enrollment until the September 15.
On-Line Materials: Sensible PreCalculus (Text Notes plus) by M. Flashman
SCOPE: We will cover topics primarily related to theory and application of Functions: Polynomial, Rational, Exponential, Logarithmic, and Trigonometric. Supplementary materials will be provided as appropriate.

TESTS and ASSIGNMENTS:  Homework assignments are made regularly. We will use MyMathLab (which is linked through the Moodle course page) to assign and grade homework. You should check MyMathLAb regularly for current homework assignments.[These will be also announced in class.]
Homework results should be recorded by 1:00 pm of the due date [Usually a Tuesday or Thursday] to receive full credit. I will discuss this further at the first class meeting. Assignments will be discussed in class on a daily basis.

The class quizzes (100 points each, usually taking 15-30 minutes) will be given on Wednesdays as in-class tests during the section meetings.**
These quizzes will have problems similar to assignments and class examples.
In most cases a missed quiz will be graded 0. The best 6 of the first 7 quizzes together with the 8th quiz will be used for the course grade. 

Calculus Readiness Diagnostic Test: During the last week of classes students will take an on-line calculus readiness diagnostic test. Besides assisting students in focusing work prior to the final exam, submission of the reported test score will be used for 40 points of the grade.
The final examination for the course will be comprehensive.
The final examination is scheduled for Thursday, December 15 @ 15:00.
**MAKE-UP TESTS WILL NOT BE GIVEN EXCEPT FOR VERY SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES!
It is the student's responsibility to request a makeup promptly,
  especially for unauthorized absence.
Section Meetings:
On Wednesdays the class will meet in separate sections for which you have registered. "Section" assignments may be done in partnerships (at most three people to a partnership) and submitted at the end of section time. "Section" time will also be used for quizzes and presentations.
You  are expected to attend the section for which you are registered.
Assigned Seating and Attendance: After August 31, students will have a seat assigned for the lecture meetings.
You may be marked absent if you are not in your assigned seat by 14:10 or at 15:15.
Absence from a section meeting is considered the same as absence from a lecture meeting of the class for attendance.
WARNING: MORE THAN 4 ABSENCES CUMULATIVE FROM LECTURE OR SECTION  MEETINGS
MAY LOWER YOUR FINAL GRADE FOR POOR ATTENDANCE. *
** DAILY ATTENDANCE SHOULD BE A HABIT*** 
  • GRADES: Final grades will be determined taking into consideration the quality of work done in the course as evidenced primarily from the accumulation of points from tests and various  assignments.

    • Course Component
    		 Allocated Points
    Quizzes 1-7 Best 6 scores 600 points
    Quiz 8 100 points
    Section work 100 points
    Calculus Readiness Diagnostic Test: 40 points
    Homework ( on MyMathLab)
    		 260 points
    Final Examination 400 or 600 points
    Total 1500 or 1700  points
  • The final examination will be be worth either 400 or 600 points determined by the following rule:
    • The final grade will use the final examination score that maximizes the average for the term based on all possible points.
    A grade of less than 50% on the final examination may result in a final grade of  F without offsetting high quality work on the other parts of the course.
  • Notice that 1100 or 1300 of these points are from formal in-class quizzes and examinations, so regular participation is essential to forming a good foundation for your grades as well as your learning.

    • FINAL GRADES:     Though final grades for the course are subject to my discretion, I will use the following overall percentages based on the total number of points for your work to determine the broader range of grades for the course.     A  85-100% ;   B  75- 84% ;  C  65- 74% ;  D  50- 64%  ;  F   0- 49% 
                    
    •Students with Disabilities: Persons who wish to request disability-related accommodations should contact the Student Disability Resource Center in House 71, 826-4678 (voice) or 826-5392 (TDD). Some accommodations may take up to several weeks to arrange. http://www.humboldt.edu/disability/
    •Add/Drop policy: ** See the University rules and dates related to the following: Students are responsible for knowing the University policy, procedures, and schedule for dropping or adding classes.
    •Emergency evacuation: Please review the evacuation plan for the classroom (posted on the orange signs) , and review http://studentaffairs.humboldt.edu/emergencyops/campus_emergency_preparedness.php for information on campus Emergency Procedures. PLEASE, take a moment to download and read this page carefully. Although it may seem as a waste of time to you right now, it may save your life one day and you will not have time to read it when you really need it.
    During an emergency, information can be found campus conditions at: 826-INFO or     http://www.humboldt.edu/emergency
    •Academic honesty: Students are responsible for knowing policy regarding academic honesty: http://studentaffairs.humboldt.edu/judicial/academic_honesty.php
    •Attendance and disruptive behavior: Students are responsible for knowing policy regarding attendance and disruptive behavior: http://studentaffairs.humboldt.edu/judicial/attendance_behavior.php
  • Technology: A computer or a graphing calculator can be used for many problems. We will use Winplot and Microsoft Xcel.
  • Graphing Calculators: Graphing calculators are welcome and highly recommended.
  • Use of  Office Hours: Many students find  pre-calculus difficult because of weakness in their algebra background skills and concepts.  A grade of C in Math 44 or intermediate algebra might indicate this kind of weakness.

    • Difficulties that might have been ignored or passed over in previous courses can be a major reason for why things don't make sense now. You may use my office hours for some additional work on these background areas either as individuals or in small groups. My office time is  also available to discuss  quizzes, routine problems from homework after they have been discussed in class, as well as using technology.

    Regular use of my time outside of class should be especially useful for students having difficulty with the work and wishing to improve through a steady approach to mastering skills and concepts.
  • Don't be shy about asking for an appointment outside of the scheduled office hours

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